Design Leadership Network

Before the Summit officially began, members and partners had the chance to immerse themselves in Spain’s history, culture, and design through a series of pre-Summit tours across Madrid and beyond.

Some ventured to Pedraza, a medieval walled village in Segovia, for a special visit to the childhood home of designer Mafalda Muñoz (.munoz)—now a living archive of her father, Paco Muñoz—before enjoying lunch at Casa Taberna and continuing on to Abbatte, a weaving workshop housed within a 13th-century monastery.

Others explored the austere grandeur of El Escorial, the Spanish Renaissance masterpiece that gave name to the “Herrerian” style.

Closer to Madrid, attendees delved into Spain’s rich artistic and culinary heritage: savoring expert-led tastings of jamón ibérico and Spanish wines, and stepping inside the city’s famed Golden Triangle of Art through private curator-led tours of the Prado, Thyssen, and Reina Sofía museums. Meanwhile, a walking tour brought the city itself into focus, tracing the layers of Madrid’s past and present through its streets and architecture.

These pre-Summit experiences offered an introduction to the landscapes, traditions, and artistry that continue to shape Spain—and set the stage for the days of community and conversation to follow.